Your induction as a newly qualified teacher (NQT) is a three-term period of assessment, usually completed in a single school year, which helps ensure that your teaching career is built on a firm foundation.
Why have an induction year?
Through a personalised programme of guidance and support, induction provides the tools NQTs will need to be successful teachers.
You can only begin your induction when you've gained qualified teacher status (QTS). You must successfully complete all the skills tests before you gain QTS. Find out about QTS.
What will I learn?
Your induction will be a period of supported development, building on what you have already learnt in your initial teacher training (ITT). Induction includes two main elements:
- a personalised programme of professional development and support, and
- an assessment against the core professional standards for teachers.
Find out more about the core professional standards.
How does induction work?
Induction is assessed across the equivalent of three full school terms, with assessment at the end of each term. It can be completed full or part-time.
Towards the end of each term of your induction period, you should meet your induction tutor or headteacher for a formal assessment. The main focus is your progress towards meeting the core professional standards.
After each of the first two meetings, the headteacher should make a report to the local authority or the Independent Schools Council Teacher Induction Panel (ISCtip), recording your progress towards meeting the core professional standards.
Following the assessment at the end of your third term, your headteacher will make a recommendation to the local authority or ISCtip about whether you have met the core professional standards.
The local authority or ISCtip will decide whether you have met the requirements for successfully completing the induction period, and will write to your headteacher and the General Teaching Council (GTC) to relay this decision.
The GTC will then write to you confirming whether or not you’ve successfully completed induction.
Read more about how induction works.
What support will I get?
As an NQT, in addition to your individual programme of professional development, you will receive:
- A 10 per cent reduction in your teaching timetable to give you time to develop your teaching skills away from the classroom. This is in addition to your statutory 10 per cent planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time.
- Support from an induction tutor.
- Regular reviews of your progress, and formal discussions at the end of each term with your tutor and/or headteacher.